KUALA LUMPUR: Applicants issued with new credit and charge cards next year will have to pay the RM50 ($20.40) service tax upfront.

For existing card holders, the charge will be imposed on the anniversary date of cards.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, who confirmed this with The Star yesterday, said the Government would impose the service tax for credit and charge cards from next year.

'Existing cardholders will only be charged the ser'vice tax through their issuing banks upon the anniversary date of the card.

'For example, if the card's anniversary date is in January, then you pay the tax in January. But if the date is in April, then you only pay the tax in April,' he added.

The minister's clarification puts to rest nagging doubts among the millions of credit card holders in the country who have been raising queries since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the new tax when he unveiled Budget 2010 in October.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, had said that a RM50 service tax for principal credit and charge cards and a RM25 for supplementary cards would be imposed from January.

This has led to card holders asking if the charges will be imposed from Jan 1 or on the anniversary dates of the cards, which are usually issued for a three-year period.

Those holding a string of cards were most eager to know before deciding to cancel some of their accounts.

A check with the customer service departments of several commercial banks showed that they had yet to receive any definite confirmation.

Some banks said they were still awaiting for a directive from Bank Negara, while others think the tax would be imposed on the anniversary dates.

A third group of banks has also offered to absorb the tax for the cardholders, on condition a certain amount of money was spent within a certain timeframe.

Cardholder Y.L. Sim, who called up the bank to cancel his credit card, said the bank advised him 'not to be hasty.'

'The officer said that they had yet to receive a formal directive from Bank Negara (on when to impose the tax). But I was worried as the New Year was nearing,' he said.

He urged those who had large outstanding credit card debts to stop using the cards and meet the issuing banks to work out a repayment mechanism.

There are some 11 million credit cards circulating in the country.

milotinBy Eva Norlyk Smith, Ph.D.

As an increasing number of consumers struggle with credit card debt, many are choosing to walk away from their debt altogether. According to the latest report from Moody’s Investors Service, credit card defaults continued their upward climb in August of 2009 after leveling off slightly in July.

Moody’s August report showed a sharp increase in defaults, or charge-offs, i.e. credit card debt that is more than 60 days old and which card issuers has written off as uncollectable. The default rate climbed to 11.49 percent, almost a full one percent higher than the 10.52 percent reported for July. Compared to 12 months ago, the default rate is up almost 70 percent, from 6.8 percent in August of 2008.

For card issuers this is bad news. Default rates at 11.49 percent means that they are losing 11.49 cents for every dollar of credit card debt on the books. And more defaults are in the pipeline. Early-stage delinquencies, i.e. accounts with payments late by 30 to 60 days, increased to almost 5.8 percent, compared to 4.6 percent a year earlier.

Posted by: musings82 Being born a malay I am guilty of being ignorant of a lot of things.Truthfully I should not have used that as an excuse because as fellow Malaysians I should realize how screw up the system is.How unfair it is to be taking care of just one race while ignoring the rest.

A friend of mine once told me that I didn't realize how lucky I am to have everything practically handed to me.Naturally I was offended at that time.In my mind I was thinking ' hey I scored straight A's in my exam too,I deserved that scholarship.'

Since then I have a lot of time to think about it.I was missing the point.My friend wasn't telling me that I didn't deserve my life ,he was just saying that I have more opppurtunities thrust to me compared to other friends from different races.I am so comfortable with what I have that I didn't realize that other people with the same grades and some with better ones are being neglected because they are not born a malay.

I was too busy feeling sorry for myself,comparing myself to other malay friends who drove mini coopers to college but still managed to secure a scholarship because they have the right names.I have forgotten those that have to work hard to achieve their dreams.Those sacrifices some have to make just to go to college.I used to have a friend in high school who worked at night in her parent's hawker stall just to help pay the tuition fees.I met her last year at a wedding and I am proud to say that she is now an engineer,thanks to her own hard work and dedications.

Sometimes it takes a major event to make someone really see the world as it is.Unfortunately I have to learn it the hard way but I am not sorry for the experience because I hope that I can be a better person,someone that is more sensitive to her friends and colleagues and is not influenced by what the politicians are trying to ram down our throats.I may not be able to change anything but I hope all the other malays out there can realize the sufferings of our fellow malaysians and try to make this country a better place.

Please stop giving excuses that we are busy saving our brothers and sisters in countries like Indonesia when we can't even save our real brothers and sisters in our own country,regardless of their skin colours.Real siblings are not those that are related to us by blood ,they are those people who stand by you when you need them.

From: The Cynic This is an extract from the Star newspaper on 21 Dec 09:"Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi later admitted that it wasinside job and it was reported that a brigadier-general, who was adepartment head at the time, and 40 other armed forces personnel weresacked last year over the incident. On why the brigadier-generalcontinued to receive his pension and other retirement benefits despitethe sacking, Najib said such decisions would depend on the wrong thatwas committed by the brigadier-general and it would be up to the ArmedForces to decide on that."

The BG who was involved in the treachery continues to receive his fullpension benefits. Why? Reasons may vary: - he is a relative of a top man.- he is the link of foreign powers (Iran?) which want the engines.- he is the fall guy for those involved in the theft.

For all you know, the Malaysian intelligence agency, the SpecialBranch, might be also involved in some way as it is doubtful that theyare not aware of happenings of events concerning the nation'ssecurity.

Ah, but then the brazen robbery at a military armoury of weapons, theuse of explosives to blow up a Mongolian model and the subsequent lowprofiling of the incident, the acquittal of a lawyer alleged to beinvolved with the appointment of judges, and other such cases say onlyone thing - DISGRACEFUL.

Posted by: hlchee1 Up till fews years back when MSC was a hype, Malaysia can be said to be in the fore front of IT development. Now it is pathetic case where we are far behind other countries broadband speed. Whether it is TM or P1, potong or not potong, every thing is the same!! The charges are also high compared to other countries if you consider upload and download speed. Service providers often stress on download speed but one should realise that upload speed is equally important. Could authorities at least have a look at these matters and make sure the citizens of Malaysia get a fair deal?

The Brain Drain Plan Posted by: Yogeswaran Gopala Krishnan We have talked and debated about the brain drain situation in Malaysia. It is happening in front of our very own eyes and more often then not, we are left wondering why not enough is done to plug this hole

Now, if we carefully think about it, maybe the country can benefit from brain drains.

We have a growing number of unemployed graduates who can’t speak English. If the clever ones who are able to articulate in English can leave the country, we would have enough jobs for these low performers.

Malaysia is not a design hub but more of a Manufacturing/Agricultural country. Let’s face it, we don’t have to be rocket scientists to control operators and make sure factory operations runs. It does not even have to run efficiently as Malaysia does have a certain low production cost advantage to all these multinational companies, who will likely to continue to invest.

Yes, going backwards is the way forward……it will benefit the country and politicians.

Low performers do not need to be highly paid. Where are they going to go? They are not competitive and cannot survive anywhere else except in Malaysia. They are not smart, English illiterates, contented without any ambition and hence easily controlled and manipulated.

With all the highly paid intelligent people gone (they are now Singapore’s problem), the country can is able to function at a lower cost.

Sure, income from the taxes will be reduced but we have PETRONAS, to take care of the Politician’s….ahem….the People’s needs as there will be more oil money to go around – remember, there will less intelligent people to question how the money is being spent.

The unintelligent people will not argue and will grab whatever crumbs (i.e. Development Projects) that are thrown at them.

The Chinese and Indians have to set aside their respective country of origin and start calling themselves Malaysians for the success of the 1Malaysia concept, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Tun are you alright?I do not think we chinese and Indian do bother about country of origin or our forefather and we know we born here and we are Malaysian..But do you ever treat as Malaysian....You are the one who create gap between teh races...I dont think so Tunku,Tun Razak or Tun Hussein did that but you through "quoting your own word - UMNO the racist party tear apart the Malaysian into different races so that you can rule them easily as how the English did ....divide and rule...I grow as Malaysian until when i become adult I know I am not considered Malaysian but Indian and my felllow friends as chinese.....You are the one who call us Indian and Chinese in almost everywhere in this country...Why if you want us to known as Malaysian then never abolish the racial party during your time as how THE GREAT Dato Onn Jaafar wanted?????.....anyway we know we all MALAYSIAN and we have equal right in this country as wethere chinese Malay or Indian we have very long history then what is written in history book and historical Bujang Valley and Kota Gelanggi can be witness for that.....

Saya Anak Malaysia.......Politician are the one who divide us.....but we Malaysian are still together

Yah, even with X2.5 conversion rate, I rate this trip amazing, exciting and valuable.

It never amaze myself, the great maintenance and management done on their facilities, public transport and infrastructure.

Since this is personal holiday trip with my wife, decided to walk along the streets in SG like backpackers.

Anyway, I do find, eventhough 2.5conversion, yet stuffs like Timberland, GAP, Nautica, CK, Gucci, Cartier, Mathur Farker, Esprit, Mango and more, after conversion back to MYR were still cheaper even inclusive of 7%GST.

Probably, since SG is an entreport and does not apply import and excise tax too imported materials, consumer can get themselves better stuffs.

Lucky to SGreans in this case compared to us, paying all the added taxes. Imagine we can get offer items of Timberland jeans @ 69SGD = 172MYR. Where can we get such price in Malaysia for this brand.

Taxi were cheaper and no forcing consumer on monopoly like KLIA. In SG, we can flag a taxi up to our choice. In KLIA you were paksa to buy KLIA Limo. Yet comparing Changi to Orchard versus KLIA to Mid-valley, distance we similar, but in SG I pay 12SGD= 30MYR yet in Malaysia I pay 48MYR from KLIA to Mid-valley.

Added, service and quality were poorer compared to SG cab. They uses Sonata, Stream, Toyota Crown, which was much spacious and clean compared with the Wajas, Wiras or Iswaras.

Security and safety were never a concerned walking on their streets. With bags and bags of our ferverous shopping spree in Vivo City, Orchard Central and Wisma Atria, while walking in Geylang after dinner and walking back to our hotel after picture snapping in Orchards Christmax decorations and yuletide celebrations.

They even have Marsh like, lake type, man-made waterfall gardens built ontop of a 12storey shopping in Orchard Road. Imagine the view and the feeling. It is greens inside a city.

Honestly Malaysia, we still have plenty to learn from SG in maintenance, proper management, good tourism attraction and what people views in safety/security.

It is definitely great compared to our quite or lukewarm feeling of Christmas.

I'll rate, the fun and greatness 8 in the scale of 10.

The only thing that is lousier than Malaysia is the food, yeah it is still better at our side.

IPOH: The Government has good intentions in wanting to remove its sugar subsidy, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said.

“It’s not about the money, but the rising rate of Malaysians getting diabetes, obesity, cancer and other diseases related to the high intake of sugar

This is teh great Joke By The deputy minister...the minster and the government........We know you only wants money.....I can 100% says that the consumption of sugar wont go down even the price goes up.....There is no corelation between subsidy and health....ANyway we Malaysian entitled for subsidy as this our land and we are entitle to enjoy the revenue by the government in teh form of SUBSIDY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>all those talk that subsidy money will be use for development is RUBBISH talk...enough...

From: Tanki <5191...@gmail.com>Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:55:00 -0800 (PST)Once upon a time in malaysia............ Posted by: blitzkreig Once upon a time in malaysia,as told by my elderly relatives, there were racial harmony and racism was something rare.

As potrayed in the late P.Ramlee's movies,although there were certain scenes where racial slurs were included but it was not offensive and definitely different from today's movie where racial slurs are not only distasteful but unartistic and offensive.

That aside,just a decade ago,there was a thoughtful gesture by the government to share celebrations of the malaysian races by giving them thoughtful names depa-raya and kongsi-raya and although it sounds funny but malayians seems to appreciate the kind gesture and for a few years everyone was happily joking about it until some racist wannabe politician pointed out that it was unislamic and disrespectful to share because hari raya is second to none and all other religious festivities cannot be on par and suddenly more racist came out to condemn festive promotions and anything and everything that can be manipulated to boost their political career and the sad thing is that the government bowed to pressure of these racist and "there goes the neighbourhood" !!!!

From then on,more and more oppourtunists took the cue and start trying their luck fanning racial unrest as a stepping stone for their political career and hurling racial slurs in public and even in Parliament !!!!!

Sadly,the government choose to turn a blind eye to these racist ploys and today,this is the result.

Anyone can argue to the contrary but i think the results speak for itself or otherwise the govt wouldnt have spent so much time and money fixing what was not broken !!!!

My advise to the govt is,if we are sincere about eradicating racism then those from UMNO who keeps provoking other races should be brought to the books or better yet,sacked !!!!why let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch !!!!

Subject: JET ENGINE STOLENPosted by: royleeken9638 Last year I lost my car in one of the well known shopping complex, I felt very sad because the insurance company never compensate me in full so just consider luck was not with me.

Today, I found out that a RM 50M jet engine was stolen for the Royal Malaysian Air Force......that show us that Malaysia is not really safe!!!!!!!

KUALA LUMPUR: The 4% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is expected to be implemented by the middle of 2011.

The GST Bill was tabled for the first reading in Parliament by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah yesterday.

He told the house that the second reading of the Bill was scheduled for March next year.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby later, Husni said the GST implementation would be a win-win situation for all, as the Government would receive an additional RM1bil in revenue for the first year while the business and export sectors would save RM4.1bil and RM1.4bil, respectively.

“The Government is proposing GST at a rate lower than the (current) sales and services tax rates, and to allow certain exemptions from GST, especially on essential goods such as padi, vegetables, basic food (rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil), fish, meat and chicken, to ensure it will not burden the rakyat, especially the lower income group.

“The main purpose for introducing GST is to make the current taxation system more comprehensive, efficient, effective, transparent and business friendly. The sales and services tax will be abolished and replaced with GST,” he said.

The current sales and services tax is from 5% to 10%.

How can this be a win-win situation for all, when the poor man-on-the-street is coughing out this money with blood?

From: ckeong MCA Liow gang try to fool the other CC members to resign while they themself remain non-commited and play safe. If they really walk the talk and not power crazy, they should tender their resignation immediately effective, and not a "IF" letters. A say he would resign if only B resign, then B say he would resign if A resign, but no one is actual resigned, the number still ZERO. Say, what if another 10 cc members also tender a "IF" resign letters ? Because no one is actually resigned, the "IF" other resign condition is not met, so the number still ZERO !! This would create a infinity loop problem.

The 13 CC members resigned is a miss-leading, actually it still remain ZERO !! Liow gang, You want to play the game, but don't want to put in the chips, and trying to fool other to put in the chips for you !! Don't fool us anymore, tender a real immediate taking effect resignation instead

"We've all watched Pres. Obama and Warren Buffett's ongoing association, from Buffett's official endorsement of Obama's 2008 presidential campaign to their sometimes differing views on economic policy. Like most family members, the President and Buffett may not always agree on everything, but this latest discovery confirming they are related may shed light on why the two seem to see eye-to-eye on many issues."

Or it may not. Seems like a stretch to me, but all in good fun.

Ancentry.com got some headlines in 2007 when it determined that President Obama and actor Brad Pitt are related. They are 9th cousins.

That means Warren Buffett is more closely related than Brad Pitt to the leader of the free world.

And if you're wondering, while Warren Buffett and musician Jimmy Buffett are friends, both play stringed musical instruments, and long thought a family relationship was possible, DNA analysis has determined they are not related.

The number of people emigrating this year (2009) is estimated to be340,000. Further, more than half this number are professionals.Malaysia is the loser in this sorry equation, and though some among usboast ‘if you dont like it, leave it’, this sorry reply will sooner orlater be exposed for the stupid vain boast that it is.

The outflow of human resource - the most precious possession that anycountry can claim - is perhaps one of the few peaceful acts that theordinary citizen can perform today in protest to their unfairtreatment. The country loses, and we all lose too in the process. Butthe ruling elite in Malaysia today has to ask itself this simplequestion: Why is so many Malaysians chosing to leave the country oftheir birth (estimated to be more than 2 million over the last 20years and increasing at an alarming rate), what were the factors thatprompted them to do so, and what could the elite have done to win andretain their confidence in the Malaysia.

What is a Nation without it’s people? The wealth of a Nation is inwhat it’s people can produce and when the cream of your people startheading for the exit in droves – something is dreadfully wrong. Thetyrants will soon be faced with the prospects of ruling a Nation ofZombies that expect to be cuddled and spoon fed all the way fromcradle to grave.

Disclaimer:- some of the comments above are extracts from an articlewritten by Farish A Noor from the Human Rights Party of Malaysia.

Be critical readers - DNA and racePosted by: monadcI was just browsing through when a recent comment caught my eye -something about Hang Tuah was Chinese. I believe it's a reference tothe still-floating "scientific articles" that's frequently bloggedabout how a team of scientists from the Federal Association ofArchaeology & Research of Michigan, USA (which does not exist, btw)discovered the remains of the "5 Sahabat", did DNA testing anddiscovered that Hang Tuah was a Chinese.

I'm not interested to argue about the supremacy of one race over theother. My only concern is about how people often accept things at facevalue without being more critical with what they read, especially ifit's something that appears scientic. The term "DNA testing" oftencomes across as sophisticated and I noticed people's tendency ofbelieving something easily if it sounds scientific enough for them.

Genetics and DNA studies have come a long way now, and are able toanswer so many questions, thanks to the completion of the Human GenomeProject. However, people need to remember and understand that DNAtesting can only do so much. You can't actually identify someone'sethnicity from the gene coding. Let me try break it down. Your boneswill identify you as one of three major races: Caucasoid (Europeans),Negroid (African, Native Australian) and Mongoloid (Asians). Your DNAcan help trace your ancestry. Your DNA can determine paternity test.DNA can help with identifying a body. Your DNA can prove whether theblood left at a crime scene is yours. Your DNA sequence can provideinformation on what diseases you are susceptible to. Your DNA may beable to provide major population affiliation. But your DNA does notclassify your race by 100%. It does not tell you if you are 100%Chinese or 100% Indian or Eskimo or Mexican.

But interestingly enough, our DNA can show how diverse we are as ahuman being. The mutations, among other markers on our genes traceback your heritage. Therefore, there is no such DNA test that canstate 100% that you are of this ethnicity, but it may be able toidentify your heritage as being 45% African, 33% Native American andso on. If my grandmother was Indonesian, my father was a New Zealanderand I was born in Johannesberg - does that automatically make me anAfrican? Maybe by citizenship, if the government made me one. Humanmigration is a common thing throughout the history of mankind. It ison a wider scale today because travelling is now cheaper. Along theway, our genetic makeup experiences shifts, changes and mutations asother factors play their influences on us. But that is the beauty ofit because that's what made us who we are and it creates diversity.

This is the reason why there is much protest against UKBA plan ontesting asylum seekers to determine whether or not they came fromSomalia in order to limit false claims for asylum. Because of thereasons I have outlined above, the plan is flawed. Very. It's alsodiscrimination on a grand scale.

Tbh I cannot understand the argument about whose ethnicity is betterthan whose, along with its stereotype. Malays are lazy. Chinese aregreedy. Indians are troublemakers. White people are ignorant. Really?What about those who do not fit in the traditional stereotype. Aperson is who he or she chooses to be. Be fair with your judgment. Ifyou take a piece of your DNA and have it analysed, you'd be surprisedat the revelation of who you are really and how diversed your trueorigin is.

Isn't there enough hate in the world already? It'd be far wiser to usegreat knowledge like this to forge better friendships with one anotherrather than using it to attack each other. Celebrate diversity.

As for Hang Tuah, well, every culture has a folk hero. Think of him asa positive anthropological significance rather than something to fuelprejudice.

In Malaysia gender equality is not practiced in many aspect includingMalaysia Immigration.

Based on Malaysia immigration law, child born in overseas belonging toMalaysian father but foreigner mother CAN be Malaysia citizen.Meanwhile child born in overseas to Malaysian mother but foreignerfather CANNOT be Malaysia citizen. by: malaysiamanaboleh

The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at theUniversity of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, asynthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging fromreproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causesBPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in mostpeople's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production orcauses chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcgof BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is goingto impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't gonear canned tomatoes."

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmerstoday feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up theanimals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lowerprices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. Arecent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers fromClemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fedbeef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugatedlinoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower ininflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have beenlinked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows areherbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chickenmanure," says Salatin.

3. Microwave Popcorn

The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for theEnvironmental Working Group,

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), inthe lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may belinked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study fromUCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, andpancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicalsto vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body foryears and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchersworry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancersin laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised tophase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions ofbags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

4. Nonorganic Potatoes

The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic StandardsBoard

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, andfungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation'smost popular vegetable—they're treated with fungicides during thegrowing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrousvines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes aretreated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "Try thisexperiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it tosprout. It won't," says Moyer, who is also farm director of the RodaleInstitute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention)."I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would nevereat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they growpotatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."

5. Farmed Salmon

The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Healthand the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of amajor study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.

The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pensand fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As aresult, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher incontaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flameretardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According toCarpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, whichcan be found on American menus. "You can only safely eat one of thesesalmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,"says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad mediaattention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT todiabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits ofomega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the highlevel of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When youeat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Foodat the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO ofthe Oregon division of the American Cancer Society

The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinantbovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boostmilk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pusin the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone calledinsulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When thegovernment approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would bebroken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turnsout, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to severalindependent studies. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasingcancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in mostindustrialized countries."

7. Conventional Apples

The expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness andcodirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research groupthat supports organic foods

The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticidescontest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted(descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains itsdistinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pestsand are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residuesare not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense tominimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples."Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. Andincreasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher bodyburden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.

Dato Seri Najib is this what you mean by 1Malaysia and Your Own PartyPaper Propagating racism and you keep quiet about it...Anyway to theWriter Zaini..We are Not Uneducated like you to say bad things aboutour fellow Malay and Chinese brothers and sisters...We will wait andsee the action of the HOme Minister's action....Dato Seri Hishamudinshow us you are who you are.....

'If, say, an Indian or Chinese counterpart of 'Zaini Hassan' or 'AwangSelamat' had insulted the Malay community in another paper, the 'fair-minded' home minister would have no hesitation in shutting down thepaper.'(thank you :Malaysiakini)

Had a nice siesta Tun Pak LahPosted by: ndlawTun has just woke up and took the side 0f the racist TDM.He says thatBTN looks like racist but not Racist, The Modules sounds like Racistbut they are not Racist. BTN acts like Racist but it is not Racist,only the facilitators are Racist, because they do not let you takehome the notes. Well it is already too late to do amendments but toimprove on the modules and let thoese present participants to bringalong recorders and cameras and handphones when they attend the nextBTN so that they can snap the pictures and record the Racist voices,and also to allow reporters to attend the courses

'Dr M, you killed democracy in Malaysia' Nov 24, 09 7:47am'That is your legacy. You silenced the voices of dissent in no uncertain terms. And in the end, the monsters your created devoured you in the process.'

Dr M on democracy and sore losers:Democracy is the best system for politics ever invented by man, according to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Suhaimi Said: Dr Mahathir Mohamad, I remember you as a dictator. Hundreds of people were detained under ISA during your rule. So don't talk about democracy. I was a victim of your dictatorship.

Equaliser: Dr Mahathir, you killed democracy in Malaysia - that is your legacy. We don't need people like you anymore in this blessed country. You are a Malay nationalist, that's all. You didn't serve all of Malaysia's people, which include the Chinese, Indians, and other ethnic groups.

A statesman is one who has served his country's people well and promoted democratic values and principles within government institutions and society as whole. You silenced voices of dissent in no uncertain terms. And in the end, the monsters you've created devoured you in the process.

Yes, you created monsters greedy for money and power, and who were willing to use any means necessary to acquire them. This country has failed to serve all its people and continues to do so. You began the trend of money politics and this is the result of your actions.

Just watch the news daily and you can see how lop-sided the coverage is in favour of the ruling party, and this right in front of our very own eyes. If only all Malaysians would open their eyes and ears to see and listen, they would know what to do come the 13th general election.

Kris: It has been estimated that during Mahathir's premiership, the amount of taxpayers' money allegedly misused by him and his cronies was in the region of hundreds of billions. To carry out this, he completely destroyed the judiciary and the enforcement agencies by replacing the honest top officials in these agencies with tainted officials who could be blackmailed into doing his bidding.

By having these people under his thumb and by controlling the media and the civil service, he ensured that he literally had dictatorial powers. To make sure that all the crooked deals that he made were not known to the public, he enacted laws like the Official Secrets Act.

In short, he was a premier who manipulated the democratic system to give himself dictatorial powers. That is why it is extremely disgusting to hear this man pontificating on democracy or corruption. Playfair: It is sad but not surprising that Dr Mahathir continues to peddle half-truths to justify his opinions. He reduces democracy to a one-dimensional event - elections - and fails to refer to other equally important elements that constitute the package called democracy.

He speaks of "sore losers", but what about the 'tyranny of the majority' (which he should be all too familiar with)? A system cultivated and nourished through dubious means and made legal through a two-thirds majority and then used to subvert national institutions to do the bidding of the majority - sore losers are nothing compared to this tyranny.

Asian values were promoted as an ideology to restrict mass political participation, good governance, transparency and accountability. The sacking of Anwar Ibrahim could not have been more un-Asian, not to mention un-Islamic, un-Malay and un-Malaysian (if Umno will allow the use of such a term).

Please keep speaking, sir, so that we can find out how you worked your way to remain in power for so long.

TC88: Talk about sore losers. Mahathir is probably a hypocrite. When Umno was declared illegal and Mahathir's position as its leader and prime minister was sorely threatened, he sacked the then Lord President and the five Supreme Court (now called the Federal Court) judges when he knew the verdict was not going to be in his favour.

Dr Mahathir, you destroyed the very fabric of Malaysia's public institutions, its constitution, the judiciary, the enforcement agencies like the police, attorney-general, and the then ACA

This has been highlighted by Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) in his speeches. Please do the honourable thing and retire, and just keep quiet like your anointed successor, Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), the Father of Malaysia's Conscience.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad acted unconstitutionally when he dismissed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from his Cabinet posts and then informed the King of the dismissal, the Federal Court heard.

Anwar’s lead counsel Karpal Singh submitted that the former premier’s action had contravened the provisions of Article 43 (5) of the Federal Constitution, which provides that the appointment of any minister may be revoked by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Karpal said there was misdirection in law which should be corrected by the court.

“This is a very serious matter. It deprived Anwar of his rights of being Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. It is an abuse of power.

“If the Prime Minister did not give advice to the King, he is acting unconstitutionally. It is as simple as that,” he said.

Furthermore, Karpal said Dr Mahathir had confirmed to the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Oct 23, 1998 that he had conveyed his decision to sack Anwar from his Cabinet posts to the King.

“This is so obvious for your lordships to allow this appeal without any hesitation. There must be a judicial honesty in the courts in this country,” he said.

The apex court had on June 16 last year granted leave for Anwar to challenge his sacking as DPM and Finance Minister on Sept 2, 1998.

Anwar is asking for a declaration that the Prime Minister had acted in contravention of the provisions of Article 43(5) when purporting to dismiss him as Minister from the Cabinet.

Anwar, who filed an originating summons on Nov 13, 1998, is asking for a declaration that his dismissal as minister in the Malaysian Cabinet is null and void, inconsequential and of no effect.

The Court of Appeal had on April 25, 2007 held that the sacking of Anwar from his Cabinet posts in 1998 by Dr Mahathir was lawful.

The High Court had on Dec 23, 1998 struck out Anwar’s civil action for an order that his dismissal from the Cabinet was unlawful.

Court of Appeal president Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, who sat together with Federal Court judges Justice Ghazali Mohd Yusof and Justice Abdull Hamid Embong, said the court would deliver its ruling on a date to be fixed.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia has given U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs (GS.N) licences to set up fund management and advisory operations in the country, as the Southeast Asia nation competes for foreign investments.

The licences were given as part of the liberalisation measures announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak earlier this year, the country's securities regulator, Securities Commission Malaysia SC, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Goldman Sachs' entry "demonstrates the group's confidence in the growth opportunities available in the Malaysian capital market," said the SC.

Other global financial companies such as JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX) already operate in Malaysia.

The growing presence of global players such as Goldman Sachs "will boost the long-term viability of the market and draw in fresh funds," Kaladher Govindan, head of research at Kuala Lumpur-based TA Securities, told Reuters by telephone.

The outlook for the Malaysian capital markets and its fund management industry was "very positive," said Tim Leissner, co-President of Southeast Asia for Goldman Sachs.

"We look forward to playing a larger role in their development," Leissner said in the SC statement.

Malaysia in June unveiled a raft of measures to boost investment in the slumping economy and lift a laggard stock market, including waiving the condition that local companies should reserve 30 percent of any post-IPO share sale to Malay investors. [ID:nKLR467124]

Corporate activity in Malaysia is expected to rise next year and bolster the stock market, analysts say.

Malaysia is the worst-performing market in Asia so far this year, up just 44 percent, compared to Indonesia's .JKSE more than 80 percent gain and Thailand's .SETI 56 percent rise. ($1=3.395 Malaysian Ringgit)

Charges should be filed against all these crooked ex Leaders who have beenthieves all along. The Anti Corruption Agency can only go after the smallfries for stealing bread and ikan bilies.

Mahathir squandered RM100 bil, says new book

From Malaysiakini

Malaysia has squandered an estimated RM100 billion on financialscandals under the 22-year rule of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, according to anew book about the former prime minister.

According to Barry Wain, author of the soon-to-be launched ‘MalaysianMaverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times’, direct financiallosses amounted to about RM50 billion.

This doubled once the invisible costs, such as unrecorded write-offs,were taken into account. The RM100 billion total loss was equivalentto US$40 billion at then prevailing exchange rates.

Barry, who is a former editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal, saysmost of the scams, which included a government attempt to manipulatethe international tin price and gambling by Bank Negara on globalcurrency markets, occurred in the 1980s.

‘Malaysian Maverick’ is the first independent, full-length study ofMahathir, who retired in 2003 after more than two decades as premier.The book will be published globally next week by Palgrave Macmillan.

Wain writes that the Mahathir administration, which took office in1981 with the slogan, “clean, efficient, trustworthy”, was almostimmediately embroiled in financial scandals that “exploded withstartling regularity”.

By the early 1990s, he says, cynics remarked that it had been “a gooddecade for bad behaviour, or a bad decade for good behaviour”.

Secret military deal with US

The book also reveals that:

Mahathir, despite his nationalistic rants, signed a secret securityagreement with the United States in 1984 that gave the Americansaccess to a jungle warfare training school in Johor and allowed themto set up a small-ship repair facility at Lumut and a plant in KualaLumpur to repair C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.Mahathir used a secret fund of his ruling Umno to turn the party intoa vast conglomerate with investments that spanned almost the entireeconomy.Mahathir’s Umno financed its new Putra World Trade Centre headquartersin Kuala Lumpur partly with taxpayers money, by forcing state-ownedbanks to write off at least RM140 million in interest on Umno loans.Wain, who is now a writer-in-residence at the Institute of SoutheastAsian Studies in Singapore, however credits Mahathir with engineeringthe country’s economic transformation, deepening industrialisation andexpanding Malaysia’s middle class.

But Mahathir had undermined state institutions, permitted the spreadof corruption and failed to provide for Malaysia’s future leadership,he says.

Related Article:

Do you know that:

Last year, Petronas gained a total pre-tax profit of RM86.8 billionand so far, it has earned about RM600 billion. As the surge ofinternational oil prices, it’s profits will as well substantiallygrow. But the government has reduced fuel subsidies by a wide margin,turning Malaysia into one of the world’s most expensive oil price oil-producing countries. It makes the people wonder where the huge profitof Petronas has gone?

Former Work Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said in the Parliamentlast year that the government has compensated a total of RM38.5billion to 20 highway companies. Also, as the government has stoppedbuilding the Scenic Bridge in Johor, it has to compensate RM300million construction cost to the bridge contractor. Isn’t the spendingof such huge amount a waste?

Malaysia Airlines was said to have suffered losses every year. But whyto spend RM1.55 million to buy three paintings to decorate itschairman’s office? And why to spend RM7,525 per day to recruit aforeign senior general manager?

Proton Holdings bought a 57.75% stake in MV Agusta for €70 million butsold it at €1 (RM4.50) a year later, causing Proton to lose €75.99million (RM 348 million)?

9. For the past 10 years since Philharmonic Orchestra was established,this orchestra has swallowed a total of RM500 million

10. In Advisors Fees, Mahathir was paid RM180,000, Shahrizat AbdulJalil (women and social development affairs) RM404,726 and Abdul HamidOthman (religious) RM549,675 per annum

11. The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion in teachingMaths and Science in English over the past five years. Out of theamount, the government paid a whopping RM2.21 billion for the purchaseof information and computer technology (ICT) equipments which it isunable to give a breakdown.

13. RM300 million to compensate Gerbang Perdana for the RM1.1 billion“Crooked Scenic Half-Bridge”

14. RM1.3 billion have been wasted building the white elephantCustoms, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellationof the Malaysia-Singapore scenic bridge

15. RM 100 million on renovation of Parliament building and leaks

16. National Astronaut Programme – RM 40 million

17. National Service Training Programme – yearly an estimate of RM 500million

18. Eye on Malaysia – RM 30 million and another RM5.7 million of freeticket

19. RM 4.63 billion, ’soft-loan’ to PKFZ

20. RM 2.4 million on indelible ink

21. Samy announced in September 2006 that the government paidcompensation amounting to RM 38.5 billion to the highway companies. RM380 million windfalls for 9 toll concessionaires earned solely fromthe toll hike in 2008 alone.

31. Wholesale distribution of tens of millions of shares in BursaMalaysia under guise of NEP to cronies, children and relatives of BNleaders and Ministers worth billions of ringgits.

32. APs scandal had been going on year-after-year going back for morethan three decades, involving a total mind-boggling sum of tens ofbillions of ringgits

33. Alienation of tens of thousands of hectares of commercial landsand forestry concessions to children and relatives of BN leaders andMinisters worth tens of billions of ringgits

34. Travel around Malaysia and see for yourself how many whiteelephants like majestic arches, roads paved with fanciful bricks,designer lamp posts, clock towers, Municipal Council buildings thatlooks more like Istanas, extravagant places of worship, refurbishmentof residences of VIPs, abandoned or under-utilised government sportscomplexes and buildings, etc! Combined they could easily amount to thehundreds of billions of ringgits!

35. Wastages and forward trading of Petronas oil in the 1990s based onthe low price of oil then. Since the accounts of Petronas are for theeyes of Prime Minister only, we have absolutely no idea of the amount.Whatever amount, you bet it is COLLOSSAL!

In Time Asia magazine issue on March 15 2004, South East Asianeconomist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore Daniel Lian, figures “thatthe country may have lost as much as U$$100 billion (RM320 billion)since the early 1980s to corruption.” Mind you, this is onlycorruption and it does not include wastages!

All the rakyat’s hard earned money down the drain and they have theaudacity to raise fuel prices and asking the people to change theirlifestyles.

--------------------------------------------From: "caroline"

Subject: Re: Mahathir squandered RM100 bil, says new book

I don't think the Chinese Bank is that stupid to take over a business entity that is rive with problems and has all incompetents running the show. The Oil reserve in Malaysia is fast running out and will soon be not worth the paper the business is written on. All the debtors will be doing the disappearing act after a take over occurs "Allah , your only god Allah , you are only allowed to have me as your only God , you are only authorised to have Allah as your only God ."

wrote in message if Petronas 's profits vanish , disappear ,

this will give ICBC Chinese bank the Chance to take over Petronas , this will be good for Chinese to take Malaysia.

n Dec 1, 5:27 am, "tkw" wrote:

> A little bird tells me Petronas does make a lot of money most of which are > on loan to lots of people who if call upon to pay back will go bust. As > the > books of Petronas is not meant for public eyes, nobody in the public > domain > knows. Petronas is still looking good as long as these people or bodies > are > not pressure to pay back. The books look okay and pretty. Belakang nampak > nya serupa sa ketul bunga. Depang tiu nya mah.

> "Abdul Rahman Dohlon" wrote in > Petronas this year has 86 billion RM as profit ,

2:45pmI refer to your article, How the gov't 'looted' up to US$100 bil.

Barisan Nasional is nothing but a den of unscrupulous characters. They are a real threat to the nation. With such a rogue government, who needs enemies from outside? Hence, we must show BN the door come the next general election!

Mahathir and his group of followers should be put on trial and be punished accordingly for their crimes and misdeeds. They should also be inducted into the 'hall of shame'.

And to better educate our future generations on the grave consequences and threat of corruption to a nation, the Pakatan Rakyat government should erect a monument of shame for Mahathir and his group of followers. Let it be featured in the moral studies textbook.

Is Mahathir really certain UMNO is racist? Has he lost his marbles? For him to declare UMNO is racist is really beyond anyone's belief he is capable of uttering.

Will he now launch a movement to clear UMNO of racists or does he subscribe to racism and will now embark full time to promote racism in Malaysia. Let the battle lines be drawn. Mahathir may just take the lead either with the racist or against the racists. It will be a well matched battle with the Malay racist going for the ordinary non Malays and the non Malays going for the Malay leaders. May 13th is a Thursday and may just be a good day for slaughter followed by a day of prayers on Friday the next day. It will be Mahathir's last call before the day is done.

On Dec 8, 7:03 pm, "caroline" wrote: > Of course he is without a doubt. Malaysians are quite tired of listening to > him crabbing along. The current Leaders have no guts to challenge him > because he has a file on all of them with their little fingers soiled. they > are all praying and hoping that he collapses and never to be seen again."Tanki" <5191...@gmail.com> wrote in message

> Speaking to reporters in Parliament lobby today, Nazri said while he > agreed with the former premier that BTN is for instilling the > patriotic spirit, Nazri said the patriotism should not only be for the > Malays.

> Mahathir said last Sunday that there was no reason for the BTN modules > to be revamped and felt it was better to retain the modules.

> "You must remember during his time when he (Mahathir) was the PM, he > was talking about (how) we must all think as Malaysians, now that he’s > not PM, (and when) you read his blogs, it’s bloody racist. I don’t > like that."

> "He must be a Malaysian (regardless if) he’s a minister or not. He > must walk his talk. Just because he wanted everyone to support him > (then), you’re (a) Malaysian and the moment you’re no longer PM, you > only talk about the Malays.

> "I cannot accept his comments. I strongly feel the BTN courses must be > inline with the 1Malaysia slogan by the PM," said Nazri .

> He also rubbished claims that the Cabinet decided to revamp the BTN > curriculum due to Nazri’s call. A columnist (Awang Selamat) in a local > weekend publication (Mingguan Malaysia) claimed the revamp of the BTN > curriculum was due to Nazri’s call to be in line with the Prime > Minister’s 1Malaysia slogan.

> "It’s a cabinet decision. BTN’s allocation is mentioned in the PM’s > department’s budget so it’s public money. Therefore, the money spent > on BTN to have courses must reflect the 1Malaysia slogan by the PM.

> "It should not only to raise patriotism among the Malays or > Bumiputras."

> "Malaysia is for all races so I disagree with any syllabus which only > concentrates on patriotism just on one community."

> "If they have a problem with that, I want to know what their problem > is," said Nazri adding the decision for the Cabinet to revamp BTN was > done when the 1Malaysia slogan was introduced by the Prime Minister.

> He also said the spirit of patriotism should be instilled in all > races. Nazri in not too many words also agreed that the BTN courses > promoted racism.

> "You want me to lie? You (will) make people laugh. I mean there are > people who attended the courses who came out very angry, so I want > them to tell me where I went wrong in not supporting the revamping of > the BTN syllabus," added Nazri.

Just look at the facts. He is an ethnic Indian. Biologically he is an Indian. Can he deny that? But he is going around claiming to be more Malay than Malay. Why? Because the Malaysian Constitution classifies him as Malay. How come? Now look at his name. I have done some research and found that it is Sanskrit. Maha = Great; Thir = short form of "theeran" = warrior. So Mahathir means Great Warrior in Sanskrit. Hence, basically Indians are ruling Malaysia. And the Malays are not even aware of it. So Mahathir is not a racist. An Indian cannot be a Malay racist. So what is he? Hee hee hee

- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -> Through these columns I intend to present a picture of the> marginalization of the Indian poor in Malaysia and also try and put> forth a coherent explanation of how it happened. I am going to do this> in several parts. I am doing this to break the myth that what has> happened to the Indian poor in the country is inevitable. That it all> happened because they lack values, they lack religion, they watch too> much Astro, they are basicaly violent and such other myths as our> current day theoreticians both within the community as outside the> community will have us believe.

> Here is the first part.

> First some basic information that will help us understand the story> that will be presented a little better.

> Basic data of Malaysia

> Population by ethnic group Malaysia, 2010

> Total> Malay> Other Bumiputera> Chinese> Indian> Others

> 26,784,965> 14,749,378> 3,197,993> 6,520,559> 1,969,343> 347,692

> 100%> 55.1%> 12%> 24.3%> 7.4%> 1.2%

> As can be seen from this data Indians form 7.4% of the total> population of Malaysia in a census projection from the Department of> Statistics, Government of Malaysia. The Indians are a minority group,> a distinct minority group.

> During the period since the Independence of the per capita Gross> Domestic Product ( GDP), an indicator of the economic progress and> status of a country – just like your salary, rose from about RM 2500> per year in 1960 to RM15,000 in 2008. Quite a performance. The economy> changed from being primarily a commodity producing & agricultural> economy (like production of rubber and palm oil) to a manufacturing> orientated economy. See table below:

> The Indians were largely involved in the rubber plantations as tappers> in a relatively modern form of agricultural production at the> inception of the nation. Though it is not food, that was produced, it> was a cash crop and it was grown – so we call it agriculture. Since> then there has been a tremendous shift in the structure of the> economy. The plantation economy slowly gave way to an industrial> economy. Factories started to replace the rubber estates as the main> feature of the economy.

> While this was happening Malaysian politics also went through> significant change. The 4 key phases in the development of the> politics are the period 1957 – 1969, 1969 – 1981. 1981 -2004, 2004 -> 2008. Each of these phases is characterized by key historical> phenomena that both chronicles what has happened in Malysian politics> as well as explain how it all happened.

> While these were occurring, the Indian population, a minority to start> with, coupled with the fact that they were in the lowest rung of> Malaysian society experienced significant outward push from the> mainstream of all these developments –economic, political and social.

> The Indians have not benefited in equal measures as the other> communities in spite of the rapid economic development that the> country experienced in this period. In these columns I will try to set> out the various forms of the push out or marginalization that the> Indian poor faced in these various phases and why this has happened.> Essentailly we all know what has happened - but we know them as> sporadic and separate events. What I will attempt to do is to connect> all these events, join the dots so to speak, and draw a big picture> for you all to see - hopefully making the truth clearer.

> But first let me start with what marginalization means:

> In sociology, marginalisation is the social process of becoming or> being made marginal - to be sent to the fringes, out of the> mainstream; or to confine to a lower social standing. make seem> unimportant “the marginalization of the underclass” is a clear> example. In its most extreme form, marginalization can exterminate> groups.

> Many communities experience marginalization. As a result of> marginalization, communities have lost their land, were forced into> destitute areas, lost their traditional sources of income, and were> excluded from the labour market. Additionally, communities have lost> their culture and values and lost their rights in society .

> Today the Malaysian Indian community is marginalized from Malaysian> society as a result of the development of practices, policies and> programs that only meet the needs of the power elite but not the needs> of the marginalized Indian poor. This marginalization is also> significantly connected to the power elite maintaining and enforcing> ways by which we think and talk about things. The way we have been> conditioned by the information trickling to us, or by way people talk> around us, we may even have difficulty acknowledging that> marginalization has occurred to the Indian community in Malaysia.

> This is my task, to make it very clear, what has happened and why it> has happened.

> The marginalization experienced by the Indians in Malaysia is> multifaceted. Specifically they can be categorized into:

> 1) Economic marginalization

> To be denied opportunities for participating productively in the> economic development of the nation. To have been pushed out of the> mainstream of economic development.

> 2) Political marginalization

> To be denied equal opportunity to participate in the decision making> processes relating to allocation of the national resource or the> social and economic development of the community. Political clout> taken away by virtue of the political processes of the country. In the> process losing political rights as a citizen and as a minority> community.

> 3) Social marginalization

> To be cast aside socially as the dreg with the social stereotypes as> labourers, drunks, untrustworthy individuals, black and smelly> fellows, dependent and always complaining to name a few of the> stereotypes usually associated with being Indian poor in Malaysia. The> result of all this is the blocking of the Indian poor from developing> pride as worthy individuals, and as a community of poor being denied> the opportunities for practicing and developing the salient culture of> the Indians.

> I will discuss each of these aspects of marginalization in the> subsequent parts. I will also discuss the sociological basis of all of> this. I will try to break the stereotyped explanations offered for the> state of the Indian community and show how through the progress of the> development of Malaysian society, this outcome has occcurred. It has> nothing to do with the Indianness in all of us – as current discourse> will have us believe. It has only to do with the political economy of> the country.

> Keep reading.

> Naragan

Hey, aneh, shaft it up your arse and keep it and your arse together inMalaysia. We here in Singapore have had our fair share of Indianscrying buckets about discrimination against them. In truth, they aresnaky racists who do not accept Chinese majority rule and try ways andmeans to increase their proportion in the population. As a result, thenumber of Indians here are increasing exponentially, without any endin sight.

New plans to keep everyone happy. There will be a new programme on how toplunder the Nation and divide the spoils to everyones' satisfaction. Thisplan cannot fail. Fuck the ignorant electorate."saki seto" <1sakis...@gmail.com> wrote in message

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak will reveal a new peaceplan for the crisis-ridden MCA upon his return from abroad, his deputyhas said today.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who met MCA leaders last night, said the newpeace plan will help the Chinese party out of the leadership crisis.

The prime minister is currently attending the Commonwealth Heads ofGovernment Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 in Port of Spain and is scheduled toreturn tomorrow.

“I will brief him on the outcome and I saw there was a strongcommitment from almost all the (MCA) leaders that I met to resolve thepolitical crisis,” Muhyiddin told a press conference here.

“I made some proposals and almost everything was accepted, butwhatever it is, the final decision will be announced after the primeminister has studied the plan,” he added.

Last night senior MCA leaders met Muhyiddin for almost three hours athis private residence to draw up a new peace plan.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat did not attend the meeting as hewas unwell.

Last week, Muhyiddin was tasked by prime minister to find a solutionto the MCA crisis.

Muhyiddin had said that he would make, finding a solution to the MCAcrisis, part of his key performance index (KPI) and hoped that hecould find a solution to resolve the crisis by the end of this month.

The MCA crisis has become a major concern for the Barisan Nasional(BN) leadership as it fears the problem could jeopardise Chinesesupport for the ruling coalition.

MCA plunged deeper into a leadership crisis after the Oct 10extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which later saw it split into twomajor factions — one headed by Ong and the other led by Liow — afterOng and Dr Chua reconciled.

Liow’s faction, at a gathering last Saturday, had passed thedeclaration, called “Declaration 1128”, pushing for the partyleadership to hold a fresh election at the central committee levelwithin 60 days.

The declaration was dismissed by Ong, who argued that it needs to besupported by the majority of the central committee members.

You are indeed a despicable pig for telling such lies about my ethnicity."Allah , your only god Allah , you are only allowed to have me as your onlyGod , you are only authorised to have Allah as your only God ." wrote in message

Sam Suddin is a Chink

> It is possible on your death, there may appear two Muslims who will be> willing to swear that you have converted to Islam and thus your wealth> will> be taken over by the Sharia Court since you will not be able to object or> challenge the truth of the statement since you are dead. The fact that you> may still be taking pork before your last breath and doing everything you> are not suppose to do is immaterial and irrevelant. A non Muslim's> testimony in a Sharia Court is worthless against the testimony of a> Muslim.> Can anyone declare that Muslims never lie and believe the statement?

GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - Some 90% do not use condoms and this is a source of worry because it can contribute to the rise of HIV/AIDS cases, said social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

Marina, an Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS steering committee member, said drug users continued to neglect the use of condoms despite the contraceptives being distributed for free by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

"Condoms are 98% safe and it can present an affordable way to combat the spread of the disease," she told reporters yesterday after the opening of the World HIV/AIDS Day national conference.

I thought Shaariibuu had withdrawn the suit against Najib. There is everylikelihood the case will be thrown out of the Malaysian court if it ever isheard in Malaysia and if even so it may take a century before courtappearances take place.The other alternative is to charge him at the International Court in Dhaig.Of course Najib may just refuse to appear for the trial. Ini sangat susah.Kapal tolong lah jangan lagi taroh.It is the job of the police to take up the case in the public interest andthus allow Najib to clear his name if he is not guilty. If Rosmah need to becharged, so be it. Justice must be seen to be done. Rosmah will have achance to clear her name too. What is so frightening for both of them?

"saki seto" <1sakis...@gmail.com> wrote in message

> Najib, bro must come clean on PI's allegations - Malaysiakini> Karpal Singh has called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his> younger brother Nazim to set the record straight with regards to the> recent revelations related to private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

> "The allegations are serious in nature and should be answered. Najib> must answer. His silence would be seen as an admission of guilt," the> senior lawyer said.

> Karpal, who is also DAP national chairperson, had previously> represented Shaariibuu Setev, the father of slain Mongolian national> Altantuya.

> Last week, Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, said Najib should stop> ignoring the allegations of his involvement in the gruesome murder.

> In interviews appearing on the internet, Balasubramaniam maintained> that his first statutory declaration, which implicated the premier,> was correct.

> Malaysiakini had also published an interview with his lawyer, Americk> Singh Sidhu.

> 'Push for criminal defamation'

> Meanwhile, Karpal said Nazim should "push for criminal defamation"> against the private investigator if the allegations were untrue.

> "It should not be let off silently. Questions have been raised and> they should be answered," he added.

> Describing the latest turn of events as "very disturbing", Karpal said> he also regretted that a molotov cocktail was thrown into lawyer> Manjeet Singh Dhillon's home on Nov 18.

> Manjeet, a former Bar Council chairperson, was the other lawyer> besides Americk who witnessed Balasubramaniam's tape interviews.

> Karpal said if the premier and his brother do not clear the air, the> allegations would continue to linger on.

> Similarly, he said to one Deepak who had also been quoted by> Balasubramaniam, must also come out to clarify his position.

> Asked if he had informed Shaariibuu of the latest development, Karpal> said he had not and would consider the matter in entirety first,> before informing his client.

> Shaariibuu had filed a RM100 million suit on June 4, 2007, seeking> damages over his daughter's death.

> In the statement of claim, the family said her death had caused them> mental shock and psychological trauma, entitling them to be> compensated with exemplary and aggravated damages.

They just don't have the balls to do it.KUANTAN: The Pahang State Legislative Assembly was told on Wednesday that the Syariah Court here would not amend the caning sentence imposed on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno just to fulfill popular demand – The Star Online

Serious? Well it looks more like State Religious Affairs Committee Chairman is having unstoppable diarrhea over the problem he is in. I guess they know that the whole world is watching and ready to jump on Datuk Mohamad Sahfri Ab Aziz, who then will be responsible for putting Malaysia on World News again. So now Datuk is buying time with this and that perhaps hoping the matter can be swept under the carpet with just a fine of RM 2,000.

As for Kartika, she has nothing to lose, one smart and brave women, turning away peoples request to appeal. She can write a book about her ordeal and it will become an international best seller.

Malaysia slipped from 47 out of 180 to 56th amongst the countries survey. Something Malaysians should not be proud off. But appears like no one is taking this seriously. Year in year our our Auditor Generals come with discrepancies in the government accounts. There will be a big hue and cry for a whilst and it will die off as fast as it was brought to light. This year suddently our PM came up with plans. But what are plans when we know from history there are just something well known that the issue will be swept below the carpet soon. This year even the TI-M or Transparency International seem to be taking a back seat. Its president Datuk Paul Low said ".. has acknowledged Malaysia efforts to deal with coruption, although the CPI this year has declined"... The Star Wedneday 18th Nov 2009.

Looks like we Malaysians live with the fact that "its OK to be currupted" or probably 56 is not so bad anyway. In a recent survey done by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research, the people in Malaysia ranked 7th in order of importance, cited economic situtation as the 1st. There was a recent article in the papers where survey amounst university students show that 30 % tolerate corruption. So the people are not serious about corruption, the government is not serious. Apparently only some political parties bring up the issues. Even then in some states it appear like some nit picking on small issues when the PKFZ appear to be a "not so serious issue". I think we should all wake up before the whole nations goes to the dogs. Political reform itself is not good enough. The government should be sincere.

We should emulate some nations who have transparent procurement and cotract system which are available in the internet. Our leaders must be bold to take action against wrong doers. If our PM makes a statement on the Auditor Generals report that we may not charge all in the court......" What type of departmental action would they do; transfer a officers who "stole" millions of ringgit worth of drugs in police custody; or do nothing when an officer was responsible for land mismanagement. If appears that "we sympathise with them, we do not want them to lose their pension, etc". So every government servant knows that unless he is charged in court, he can retire peacefully even if he has amassed millions of ringgit belonging to the rakyat. The answer to fight corruption is simple; heads must role; mismanagement must be eradicated; we should start the clean up right from the top. Several nations have done this successfully.

Any department head who cannot fulfill the KPI should be terminated not transfered.. There must be departmental regulations to deal with corruption; not wait to charge in court. Even in court, the inefficiency of the investigators have literally "thrown many cases out of the windows". Its simple - get a good lawyer - find a loop hole and you emerge as a hero. When are we going to stop this. What are we waiting for? If we want to reduce street crimes by 20%, we should also have a KPI to reduce our CPI too.

The driver is smoking in the bus along the way. Inside the bus there's no ventilation, therefore the passengers inhale the smoke which is very heavy.

CommentsThank you for highlighting your experience onboard express buses. Now at least I am not the only guy exposing wrongdoings in this blog.

I hope more will come forward and post a long list of worngdoings.

Together let's highlight issues of public transportation and put more pressure to the people in charge to bring change.By wrongdoings_rapidkl, 21-Nov-2009

I wasn't sure on which bus should i take to Ipoh at that point of time because it was my first trip taking public transport.Not only did i experience this, the bus was half hour late to leave from puduraya. (-.-)"By marianyong, 22-Nov-2009

The recent police shoot out in Klang that killed five suspected criminals is regrettable and deeply disturbing.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan righty said that the responsibility of the police is to protect and rescue law-abiding citizens, and not to protect criminals who kill to escape arrest. It is clearly within the right of the police to act in self-defense and protect the lives of innocent by-standers. If the police really acted in self defense as he claims, then there is absolutely no reason to question them for their actions. However if otherwise,as claimed by many, then we have some serious problems to address as we had lost five young Malaysians at the prime of their lives who were yet to be proven to be criminals.

The IGP strongly denied all allegations by various quarters including some members of parliament that the police was trigger happy and only targeted the Indian community. These are serious allegations that have instilled fear and anxiety in the minds of the vast majority of the Indian parents regarding the safety of their children who are decent law abiding citizens.As Indian parents we fear the safety of our young children when they are out with their friends even for healthy activities.

While the IGP’s reassurances are welcome he must do more to allay the fears among the people as a number of questions remains unanswered regarding the recent shooting in Klang where five suspected criminals were shot dead by the police.So far we only have the police side of the story which the people are not willing to believe as result of past experiences.

This is not the first time for such a controversial police action. A number of similar shooting incidences before were ignored despite calls for thorough investigation. This has created a negative public perception of the police. These perceptions may be wrong but the onus is on the IGP and the police to correct it with some urgency as the fear among the people for their safety in genuine.

The shooting must not be made into a racial issue as that will only lead to cover up and pushing the problem under the carpet. Instead it questions the professionalism of our police force and the IGP and the government should act to prove that the assault on the alleged robbers was in accordance with the set laws governing such operations. They must ensure that all rules were followed and all precautions taken to avoid unnecessary deaths.

Was indiscriminate force used by the police? What was the evidence to indicate that the suspects were the real criminals? Did the suspected criminals open fire at the police? These are the questions that need to be answered. This can only be done by a professional and unbiased investigation into the incident to reveal the truth.

Only by doing so can the allegations against the police be proven false and the negative image erased from the minds of the people at large. There have been too many such incidences that brings into question the reputation and integrity of our police which was held in high esteem. The IGP and the government must take this opportunity to restore the confidence of the rakyat on the police force as the true guardian of their safety.